Veterans Report - Week of December 01, 2014

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Veterans Report - Week of December 01, 2014

Benefit Alert: VA Loan Rates are Low
Now is the time to use your VA Loan. Rates are near historic lows and you don't have to pay PMI or have a large down payment. Plus you can get financing up to $417,000. (https://secure.military.com/leads/VALoa ... rvr1201.nl) Use your VA Loan Benefit today.
(http://www.military.com/money/va-loans?ESRC=mrvr1201.nl) Want more information about this great benefit?


2015 Defense Bill at Risk
A dispute between House and Senate armed services committees over whether to slow growth in military housing allowances and raise off-base pharmacy copayments has put passage of a 2015 defense authorization bill at risk. This could be the first in 52 years that Congress would fail to pass a bill to shape defense policy and reset budget, which would mean no new programs, thousands of hours of wasted effort on Capitol Hill, and a budget mess for the 114th Congress to address in late January. (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... -on-ropes/) Read more about the impact of this battle in the Military Update.


Military Funeral Honors Program
The Army National Guard (ARNG) Military Funeral Honors program provides burial and memorial honors to eligible veterans in 52 of 54 states and territories when requested by an authorized family member. The ARNG program covers vast regions of the country that are difficult for the active component to cover with limited resources. The ARNG trains the Guard MFH team members to the ARNG program's professional ceremonial standards, established in conjunction with the Army's Old Guard, to certify Soldiers as MFH team members and trainers. For more information, visit the Army National Guard (ARNG) (http://www.arng.army.mil/familyservices ... onors.aspx) Military Funeral Honors Program website.
For more on military memorial and burial services, visit (http://www.military.com/benefits/burial-and-memorial) this Military.com section.


Google Launches Vet Career Website
Google has unveiled a new website hoping to lure military veterans to work at the company. The Veterans Hub at (http://www.google.com/about/careers/veterans/index.html) www.google.com/about/careers/veterans/index.html is an extension of Google's career page, offering information on available jobs and how military service can translate to working at the company.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


Veterans: Find Your Calling at Sprint
Sprint values and honors members of the military who serve our country. Sprint is widely recognized for their strong commitment to the military and they are proud of their military recruitment program, which focuses on hiring veterans, members of the Reserve and National Guard, as well as active members of the military. (http://www.military.com/veteran-employe ... =vr1201.nl) Learn more.


Senate Hearing on Vet Suicides
The U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs recently held a hearing on Mental Health and Suicide Among Veterans. Testimonies from and a video of the hearing are available on the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs website at (http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings ... cide111914) http://www.veterans.senate.gov/hearings ... cide111914.
For mental health guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... d-wellness) Military.com Mental Health and Wellness section.


Ohio Vet Talent Index Released
Monster (NYSE: MWW) and Military.com announced the results of the first ever Ohio Veterans Talent Index, a statewide report on veteran employment which reveals Ohio has expanding job opportunities, a confident pool of transitioning servicemembers who are dedicated to Ohio, and employers committed to hiring veterans. The Ohio Veterans Talent Index found strong employer engagement with veteran hiring initiatives, with 85 percent reporting the use of state employment resources to recruit and engage talented veterans, including OhioMeansJobs.com and services provided by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services at (http://jfs.ohio.gov/) jfs.ohio.gov. To view the complete Ohio Veterans Talent Index report and results, visit the Monster.com website at (http://www.monster.com/about/veterans-talent-index) www.monster.com/about/veterans-talent-index.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


Pentagon Promoting Athletics, Arts
The Pentagon is promoting athletics and arts during Wounded Warrior Care Month. The Defense Department is promoting team sports as one of many activities helping servicemembers transition home from war. Wounded warriors are also being encouraged to join art programs, which therapists say are especially promising for those recovering from traumatic brain injuries or PTSD. To learn more about the Pentagon's programming and resources for wounded warriors and their caregivers, visit the (http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/wounded- ... resources/) Warrior Care Blog.
For mental health guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... d-wellness) Military.com Mental Health and Wellness section.


Veteran Benefits Explained
In addition to the pensions and benefits to which you may be entitled because of both public and private employment, you may also be eligible for certain benefits based on your military service. (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... =vr1201.nl) Learn more.


Google Teams Up for 'Salute to Service'
To honor the veterans who fought for our country overseas in the months after Sept. 11, 2001, the 9/11 Memorial Museum partnered with Google to launch a one-of-a-kind installation, now available in the museum's Foundation Hall as part of the Salute to Service program. Powered by Google Tour Builder, the interactive installation allows you to learn about the stories of nine veterans and military personnel who were inspired to join the armed forces or were deployed soon after 9/11. Many of the courageous men and women who fight overseas have returned to their communities, and this exhibition honors their work. View the installation at Veterans 9/11 Memorial Museum website at (http://veterans.911memorial.org/) veterans.911memorial.org. See images of the installation (https://www.911memorial.org/photo-albums/call-serve) online.
For more family support resources, see this (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) Military.com Spouse Channel article.


Some Discharges to be Reevaluated
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, himself a Vietnam veteran, has ordered the Pentagon to open the books and allow some veterans of the Vietnam War with less than honorable discharges to be classified as suffering from post-traumatic stress and allow that to be a considered factor in their discharge. The move could potentially allow thousands of veterans who did not qualify for disability pay because of their discharge status to finally be compensated. With most Vietnam veterans now in their sixties and seventies, this could address the high rates of homelessness, depression and suicide among the group.
For more articles related to PTSD, visit (http://www.military.com/topics/ptsd) Military.com's PTSD section.


Get $1 Mil Coverage from just $41 a Month
Protection for less. Get $1,000,000 Coverage from only $41 a Month. (http://www.military.com/insurance/?lpid ... rvr1201.nl) Could your family survive if something happened to you?


Horses4Heroes Offers Riding Opportunities
The mission of the nonprofit organization Horses4Heroes is to make horseback riding affordable for, and accessible to, our servicemembers, veterans, survivors, First Responders and their immediate families, as well as other heroes in our communities. The horses help to re-integrate our soldiers into their families, help win the war against PTSD and suicide, and heal our injured servicemembers. Horses4Heroes has participating locations in Nevada, Arizona, and California. For more information and to find a participating location, visit the (http://www.horses4heroes.org/) Horses4Heroes website.
For more family support resources, see this (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) Military.com Spouse Channel article.


Hilton Vet Internship Program
Hilton Worldwide, Goodwill Industries International and Apollo Education Group, parent company of University of Phoenix, have announced the launch of the (http://www.phoenix.edu/vetleaders) Hilton Military Internship Program. Participants in the program can earn a certificate in Hospitality Management from University of Phoenix School of Business and participate in a separate six-month, paid internship at a Hilton Worldwide property in a select U.S. City to gain invaluable hands-on experience in the hospitality industry. Participants are guaranteed opportunities to interview with Hilton for full-time positions. The certificate program offers veterans flexibility to work while growing skills to help qualify them for supervisory roles. For more information, visit the visit the Hilton Military Internship Program website at (http://www.phoenix.edu/vetleaders) www.phoenix.edu/vetleaders.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


VA Medical Appointment Process Fix
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new Medical Appointment Scheduling System (MASS). The new MASS technology will help improve access to care for Veterans by providing schedulers with state-of-the-art, management-based scheduling software. Any qualified vendor may compete. Potential bidders are not required to have prior experience working with VA. Proposals are due on January 9, 2015. Information about the RFP may be found at the (http://go.usa.gov/sVDP) FedBizOps.gov website. The RFP number is VA118-15-R-0715.
For more veterans benefits info and updates, visit the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com) Military Advantage blog.